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Cuts and grazes
Cuts and
grazes
Cut or grazed yourself?
Attend to it properly so that your skin
can recover quickly.
ABOUT
All you need to know
about cuts and grazes
TREATMENT
Easy-to-follow tips
and advice
SOLUTIONS
Elastoplast products
that might help
PREVENTION
How to prevent
scarring and heal
more efficiently
ABOUT
Fortunately, the most common everyday injuries are minor wounds which can easily be attended to with a plaster.
Whether you've cut yourself while chopping vegetables, grazed your skin while walking along a wall or maybe you fell on your hands – a plaster will take care of these minor injuries and help them heal better.
What kind of wound is it?
A cut with its dehiscent wound edges; © Elastoplast
A graze or abrasion extending to nerve endings;
© Elastoplast

Cuts: A cut is an area of severed skin that has been penetrated with a sharp edge, such as a knife, a small tool or the edge of a sheet of paper (paper cuts are also painful). The wound will often bleed and have slightly dehiscent wound edges.

ABRASIONS CAN HURT BECAUSE
OF THE MANY NERVE ENDINGS
LOCATED RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE SKIN

Grazes or abrasions: A usually harmless abrasion of the upper skin layers that occurs after falling on knees, hands or elbows, or scratching over a rough surface. Abrasions can be painful since the injury often extends to the many fine nerve endings subjacent to the skin.

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TREATMENT
How to treat minor wounds like a cut or abrasion
Step 1

Remember to wash your hands carefully before treating a wound. Any break in the skin can be susceptible to bacteria penetrating.

Step 2

Clean the wound carefully, wiping away any dirt and grit. Use a clean cotton cloth with disinfectant or rinse with cold water, then pat the area dry before applying a clean dressing. Usually it is recommended to disinfect the graze or abrasion.
Important: Do not remove embedded objects, leave that to medical staff.

Step 3

In any case, cover the cut or abrasion with a plaster. A plaster will protect the injured area from friction, bacteria and contamination, will absorb wound fluid and create conditions in which the wound can heal in an undisturbed manner. Tip: Special Elastoplast plasters such as Elastoplast Antibacterial Fabric already contain antibacterial silver in its wound pad which will reduce the risk of infection.

Some simple steps to follow when treating wounds

01

Stay calm and reassure the person, even if the wound is bleeding heavily. Decide if the casualty needs medical aid; ask for advice, if not sure.

With children: Explain what you are doing, that it might be a little painful but that they will soon feel better.

02

03

Make sure you wash your hands before applying plasters or dressings or wear disposable surgical gloves – this will minimize the risk of infection.

A minor wound will soon stop bleeding.
If it doesn't, apply a little pressure to the spot with a gauze pad until it stops.

04

05

If the bleeding continues, apply more gauze pads, keep pressure on the wound and seek medical advice.

Clean the wound carefully, wiping away any dirt and grit.
Use a clean cotton cloth sprayed with disinfectant or rinse with cold water, then pat the area dry before applying a clean dressing.
Important: Do not remove embedded objects, leave that to medical staff.

06

07

Disinfect, then cover the injured area with an appropriate dressing such as a wound pad, compress or an adhesive bandage.

Keep all cuts clean and change dressing regularly.

08

Extra tips when treating somebody else‘s wounds:
Dr. Rainer Wolber from Research & Development, Beiersdorf AG
Elastoplast Fast Healing™ plasters will create moist wound healing conditions

Expert tip

“Did you know that you can speed up wound healing? Using a special plaster will create ideal conditions for moist wound healing, which will accelerate healing by up to 50 %* and reduce the risk of scarring. Try Elastoplast Fast Healing™ plasters for advanced results.

“USING SPECIALIZED PLASTERS SUCH AS ELASTOPLAST FAST HEALING™ WILL SPEED UP HEALING BY UP TO 50 %*”

Its advanced polyurethane plaster technology ensures moist wound healing conditions for ideal wound healing. On top of that, the flexible, breathable and waterproof material ensures excellent skin tolerability.
Clinical studies prove that this plaster will give you excellent cosmetic results.”

*Wigger-Alberti W. et al. J Wound Care
2009 Mar; 18 (3):123-28, 131

WOUND DRESSING KNOW-HOW
ISN'T IT BETTER TO KEEP SMALL WOUNDS UNCOVERED?

01

No. It's a wound care myth that keeping minor cuts and grazes uncovered helps them heal faster. The contrary is true. Research shows that covered wounds heal more efficiently and have a reduced risk of infection. Elastoplast products provide safe protection until the wound is completely healed. Also see: 5 good reasons for moist wound healing and Silver Technology
WHEN SHOULD I CONSULT A DOCTOR?

We recommend to contact a medical professional under the following circumstances:

  • If the wound is deep and causes major bleeding.
  • If the wound shows signs of infection such as redness, warmth, pain and swelling.
  • If foreign objects are embedded in the wound.
  • In case of an animal or human bite or in case of contact with animal blood.
  • If the wound is in the area of the face.
  • If there is insufficient tetanus vaccination and of course any time you have questions or are uncertain.

02

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CHANGE MY PLASTER?

03

Usually, wound dressings and plasters should be changed daily for hygienic reasons. If you use an advanced plaster such as Elastoplast Fast Healing™ that provides moist wound healing conditions, it's recommended to leave it in place for up to two days or more in order to not interrupt the healing process.
IT LOOKS LIKE MY WOUND GOT INFECTED AND SUPPURATES – WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Contact a medical professional as soon as you recognize signs of infection. Symptoms include not only the occurrence of pus but also swelling, redness, warmth, pain, itching or burning. In case of infection the wound will need special medical treatment.

04

PLASTER GUIDE - THE SPECIALISTS

Applying the right plaster can significantly increase your comfort and speed up healing. Find out which plaster is right for you.

01

The waterproof specialists
The Elastoplast Waterproof plasters as well as the Elastoplast Fast Healing™ patches are waterproof and will not come off while washing or showering. Also, e.g. the Elastoplast Invisible Protection, Elastoplast Antibacterial Waterproof and the Elastoplast SOS Blister plasters are waterproof. If your are looking for the comfort of a flexible plaster in combination with water resistancy of a waterproof plaster try our Elastoplast Heavy Fabric Waterproof plasters.

The fabric specialists
Check out the Elastoplast Fabric, Heavy Fabric and Heavy Fabric Waterproof products: These plasters are made from especially flexible and breathable material, making them particularly suitable for joints and other moveable body parts; even for larger wounds on knees as they come in various shapes and sizes.

02

03

The finger specialists
Elastoplast has a special hand pack with four different plaster shapes to fit fingers, fingertips and knuckles – the Elastoplast Fabric Hand Pack (also available in a waterproof version: Elastoplast Waterproof Hand Pack).
The antiseptic specialists
Looking to protect your wound from dirt as well as infection? Then try plasters which come with an antiseptic such as Silver Technology (i.e. Elastoplast Antibacterial Fabric) which are designed to help avoid infections even more effectively. However, additional cleansing and disinfection of the wound before applying the plaster is recommended.

04

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SOLUTIONS
Some products that might help

Always cover your wound. Make sure to have a stock of different bandages and wound dressings so that you have the most suitable one at hand when taking care of your wound. Some suggestions from the Elastoplast range:

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PREVENTION
Tips

01

When using sharp tools, be especially careful and if necessary, wear protective gear.
In the kitchen, chop away from yourself and remember that sharp knives are actually less dangerous than blunt ones as they will pass through the object smoother.

02

03

Pass scissors with the sharp ends pointing away from the person you are giving them to.
It's impossible to avoid all cuts and grazes, so make sure to have a well-stocked First Aid kit at home. Find tips on what it should contain here.

04

Do not pick at scabs. Right after you suffer from a cut or scrape your body starts healing the wound. White blood cells attack infection-causing bacteria. Red blood cells and platelets create a clot over your wound. And in no time, a scab forms. If you pick off the scab, you may not only reopen the wound and open the door for bacteria, you could also create a larger scar.
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Always see your doctor if the wound is deep, bleeding or shows signs of infection like reddening, swelling or warmth. Also make sure to seek medical help if you are not able to clean the wound properly.
 
In case you have diabetes proper wound care is of special importance. Always discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor and/or podiatrist, even for the care of minor wounds and skin cracks – especially on your feet.
 
Please note that none of the tips or recommendations mentioned above substitute medical advice. Carefully read the directions on our product packages. Important: Consult a medical professional in case of any uncertainity of treating your wound properly.
 
The information provided on this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care or advice. If you have or suspect a health problem, you should consult your doctor. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it, because of something you have read on this website.

For further information regarding Elastoplast products, please contact us via e-mail at consumerrelations@bdfcdn.com.

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Health & Protection
  • Burns
  • Accelerated healing and scar reduction
  • Cuts and grazes
  • First Aid
    • Beauty & Care
  • Blisters
    • Expert Tip
    Dr. Rainer Wolber, Research & Development, Beiersdorf AG
    “Even a small abrasion should be disinfected. Using a special disinfectant plaster will not only take care of bacteria that might infect your small injury, but also speed up the healing process.”
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    Fast Healing™ plasters
    Help wounds heal faster and reduce the risk of scaring.→
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    Wound Care
    Waterproof Hand Pack
    Waterproof protection with special shapes for your hands.→
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    Antibacterial Waterproof plasters
    Help prevent infection with antiseptic silver and waterproof plasters.→
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